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About Us
Our Mission – to nourish and support the Arts in and around MK, increase participation in the arts by MK’s diverse population and to facilitate creative activity for which there is a need or appetite in MK.
We do this by providing
Arts Gateway MK, and its predecessor MK Arts Association, has had many incarnations over its 35 year existence; from a self-help network of artists through to its current role as provider of services to MK`s Arts and Cultural sector, primarily delivering creative workspace at Burners Lane.
Arts Gateway MK exists to make a difference in MK and to its cultural infrastructure in whatever way we can. Our core business remains the provision of multi-genre creative hubs at Arts Central, currently at Burners Lane in Kiln Farm. We have more than doubled our scale of operation at Burners Lane to 75 studios and workspaces – well over half of MK`s overall provision. Alongside this we continue to deliver a variety of creative programmes from an increasing number of locations with a widening group of collaborating partners and serving a diversity of MK communities.
In 2019 we faced a number of challenges around how and what we deliver publicly. We have continued MK Lit Fest and in the future we envisage the development of bespoke space in which to reinvigorate mixed programme.
We are delighted to have previously received generous funding from the following bodies:
Meet the Team
Operations
Debby Griffin
Debby is an Arts Central resident and the Office Manager. She became a resident after volunteering when Arts Central first moved to Kiln Farm. She has since grown her artistic business, regularly attending fayres with her work. From January 2019 Debby took on the rewarding challenge of Office Manager and plays an important role in the continuing growth of Art Central and Arts Gateway MK.
Debby Griffin
Office ManagerHelen Potter
Helen is founder of Helen Potter Bookkeeping Services, providing professional and reliable bookkeeping services within Milton Keynes. Certified as both a Quickbooks user and Xero user, she also has knowledge of Sage and Excel. Helen provides office support to the Arts Gateway MK team.
Helen Potter
Office SupportHayden Otton
Hayden has worked as an artist, illustrator and designer/maker for 40 years. He enjoys creating everything from models to props and costumes for cosplay. Hayden makes gift and collectors boxes and he designs and creates fan art reproductions for our customers. He is heavily involved as a volunteer at Arts Gateway MK, fulfilling duties including Arts Central Facilities & Building Management and CARC Director. Hayden also mentors and advises new and emerging businesses particularly within the creative sector, much of which is voluntary through AGMK.
Hayden Otton
Building & Facilities ManagerJane Charles
Jane is a textile artist and tutor, providing creative fabrics and creative days. She has worked with children as young as 4 playing with fabric crayons and colour through to retired ladies learning new skills in C&G’s. She enjoys inspiring people and sharing ideas, exhibiting work and thinking up new projects and directions for her own projects. Jane is a resident at Arts Central and helps provide office support to the Arts Gateway MK team.
Jane Charles
Office SupportTrustees
John Best
John Best is a town planner and urbanist, formerly CEO of MK Council, and now finding ways to put MK firmly on the cultural map as chair of Arts Gateway MK. He also chairs MK Lit Fest and the Community Arts Resources Centre, both within the wider AGMK family. He lives in New Bradwell, is involved in several waterways projects including as Trustee of the Bedford & MK Waterway Trust, chair of MK Canalside Forum and former SE chair of the Canal & River Trust. He is an occasional bass guitarist.
John Best
Chair of TrusteesJoan Stewart
Joan Stewart volunteers at Arts Gateway and the Citizens Advice Bureau, has recently been learning more about the history of visual culture, and appreciates others’ creative endeavours. She worked for many years in software development at the Open University. She believes that the arts provide enjoyment, stimulation and enhance understanding of our complex world.
Joan Stewart
TrusteeDarren Millis
Darren Millis is a Partner, and Head of Department, at Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors based in Milton Keynes. Darren is a commercial property lawyer dealing with commercial and residential developments and commercial leases.
Darren Millis
TrusteeRyan Gillies
Ryan Gillies is a Councilor for nearby Broughton & Milton Keynes Village Parish Council, and is Data Officer for the local charity Willen Hospice. Ryan has a background in data across multiple sectors including financial services, startups and the F&B sector. Born and raised in Milton Keynes, he is a passionate advocate for both MK and the arts, having married a sculptor and being an amateur creative writer in his own right.
Ryan Gillies
TrusteeCatherine Park
Catherine has worked in a variety of generalist and specialist roles in marketing and communications, both in-house and as a consultant. In more recent years, she has specialised in providing communications support to not-for-profit membership organisations. She has a longstanding interest in the arts.
Catherine Park
TrusteeBen Brophy ACA
Ben is a qualified accountant and member of the Accounts team with the local, award winning accountancy firm Ad Valorem. On the side he is also a successful open water English Channel solo swimmer.
Ben Brophy ACA
TrusteeBasket
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